Chapter Nine: The Congress. Learning Outcomes LO 1 Describe the various roles played by Congress and the constitutional basis of its powers. LO 2 Explain

Chapter Nine: Chapter Nine:

The CongressThe Congress

Learning OutcomesLO 1 Describe the various roles played by Congress and the

constitutional basis of its powers.

LO 2 Explain some of the differences between the House and the Senate, and some of the privileges enjoyed by members of Congress.

LO 3 Examine the implications of apportioning House seats.

LO 4 Describe the committee structure of the House and the Senate, and specify the key leadership positions in each chamber.

LO 5 Discuss the process by which a bill becomes law and how the federal government establishes its budget.

Copyright © 2015 Cengage Learning 2

The Nature and Functions of CongressBicameralismThe Lawmaking FunctionThe Representation Function

The trustee view of representationThe instructed-delegate view of

representation


Senator Kelly Ayotte (R., N.H.) receives an award from the Women’s Democracy Network (WDN). The network is a project of the International Republican Institute, which in turn is sponsored by the Republican Party. The WDN is active in sixty-one nations. Why might U.S. political parties sponsor nonprofit organizations to work around the world?


The Nature and Functions of CongressService to ConstituentsThe Oversight FunctionThe Public-Education FunctionThe Conflict-Resolution Function


The Nature and Functions of CongressThe Powers of Congress

Enumerated powersPowers of the SenateConstitutional amendmentsThe necessary and proper clause


Senator Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) is a well known critic of the banking industry. Why might such a record help a senator get elected?


House-Senate Differences and Congressional PerksSize and RulesDebate and Filibustering

ClotureIncreased use of the filibusterReconciliation


House-Senate Differences and Congressional PerksCongresspersons and the Citizenry: A

ComparisonPerks and Privileges

Permanent professional staffsPrivileges and immunities under law


Congressional Elections and ApportionmentCandidates for Congressional

ElectionsPresidential effectsThe power of incumbency


Congressional Elections and ApportionmentApportionment

of the HouseGerrymandering


The Original Gerrymander

Congressional Elections and ApportionmentGerrymandering

How Gerrymandering WorksRedistricting after the 2012 Census


Examples of Districting


The Fourth Congressional District of Illinois


How Congress is OrganizedThe Power of CommitteesTypes of Congressional Committees

StandingSelectJointConferenceHouse Rules


HOUSE COMMITTEESHOUSE COMMITTEES

Agriculture Foreign Affairs Science and Technology

Appropriations Homeland Security Small Business

Armed Services House Administration Standards of Official Conduct

Budget Judiciary Transportation and Infrastructure

Education and the Workforce

Natural Resources Veterans’ Affairs

Energy and Commerce

Oversight and Government Reform

Ways and Means

Financial Services Rules


SENATE COMMITTEES

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

Energy and Natural Resources

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

Appropriations Environment and Public Works

Judiciary

Armed Services Finance Rules and Administration

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

Foreign Relations Small Business and Entrepreneurship

Budget Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Veterans’ Affairs

Commerce, Science, and Transportation


In 2013, President Obama named Chuck Hagel to be Secretary of Defense. Even though Hagel was a former Republican senator from Nebraska, he received an intense grilling from the Senate Armed Services Committee. He was eventually confirmed, but forty-one Republicans voted against him. What kinds of questions might senators have asked him?


Representative Paul Ryan (R., Wisconsin) chairs the House Budget Committee. He holds in his hands a program to cut federal government spending. Why does his position as chair give Ryan significant powers?


How Congress is OrganizedThe Selection of Committee Members

Seniority system

Leadership in the HouseSpeakerMajority and Minority LeadersWhip


Former House minority leader John Boehner (R., Ohio) became Speaker of the House in January 2011 after the Republicans won control of the House in the 2010 elections. The former Speaker, Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.), had to step down. She then became the minority leader. Does the Speaker normally participate in floor debate?


How Congress is OrganizedLeadership in the Senate

President pro temporeSenate majority leaderSenate minority leaderWhip


After the Democrats took control of the U.S. Senate in the 2006 elections, Republican senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, right, was elected Senate minority leader. Democratic senator Harry Reid of Nevada, left, became the Senate majority leader. Both were reelected to their leadership positions after the 2012 elections. It is very rare for a congressional leader to become president. How might a congressional leadership position interfere with presidential aspirations?


Patrick Leahy (D., Vt.) is the Democrat with the longest continuous term of service in the U.S. Senate. For that reason, he serves as the president pro tempore of the Senate. What powers, if any, does Leahy gain by holding this position?


Lawmaking and BudgetingHow Much Will the Government Spend?Preparing the Budget

OMB reviews the budgetThe election-year budget


Lawmaking and BudgetingCongress Faces the Budget

The authorization processThe appropriation processEvading the ban on earmarks

Budget Resolutions and Crises


The Budget Cycle


Lawmaking and BudgetingBudget Resolutions and Crises

The continuing resolutionThe federal debt ceiling The fiscal cliff and the sequester


New Polling Shows Public Disapproval for the President and Congress


Click picture to play video

New Polling Shows Public Disapproval for the President and Congress

Taking a closer look:1. Will falling public approval have a major

impact on the next election cycle?

2. Do you believe your representatives should serve as trustees or as instructed delegates?

3. Does public opinion polling hinder the lawmaking function of Congress?


Documents

Chapter Nine: The Congress. Learning Outcomes LO 1 Describe the various roles played by Congress and the constitutional basis of its powers. LO 2 Explain